Cover arrangement for an ice rink and a method for covering an ice rink

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a cover arrangement for an ice rink. The cover arrangement comprising a flexible cover part having an area at least as large as the area of the ice of the ice rink, wherein the cover arrangement further comprises fixing elements arranged along the periphery of the flexible cover part for detachably fixing the flexible cover part to boards surrounding the ice such that a space is formed between the ice and the flexible cover part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a cover arrangement, particularly to a coverarrangement used for covering the ice of an ice rink in an ice sportsfacility, such as an ice hockey rink in an indoor ice hockey stadium forinstance. The invention also relates to a method for covering the ice ofan ice rink.

Such a cover may be employed during inactive periods of the ice rinki.e., when the ice rink is not in use and when maintenance is notperformed on ice.

Background of the Invention

The purpose of ice sports facilities is to provide suitable conditionsfor practicing ice sports. Desirable conditions for ice sports varyaccording to the activities performed on the ice and preferences of theusers, but generally the temperature of the ice is between −5 and −2degrees Celsius, and the temperature of the air in the ice sportsfacility in vicinity of the ice rink is generally between 6 and 12degrees Celsius. Due to this temperature difference, the ice sportsfacility is an unbalanced thermodynamic system, where due tothermodynamic principles, the system seeks equilibrium resulting inenergy flows between the ice and the heated air. The main form of energyflow between the ice and the air is convection, and to a smaller degreeconduction, and heat radiation.

Maintaining this unbalanced thermodynamic state is highly energyconsuming, as in practice, the ice must be constantly cooled while theair must be heated at the same time, resulting in high total energyconsumption. In fact, majority of the total energy consumption in icesports facilities (circa 80%) results from said cooling of the ice andheating of the air. High total energy consumption in turn translates tohigh operation costs as the upkeep of the above-described conditionsrequires use of external (bought) energy.

The ice of the ice rink is a significant cool surface area relative tothe size of the ice sports facility, the area of the ice generallyranging from 1400 square meters to 1800 square meters in case of icehockey rinks, for instance. This large cool surface acts as a massiveheat sink dissipating and thus wasting both the cooling energy and theheat energy produced inside the ice sports facility. Heat energy issupplied to the ice sports facility mainly in form of heated supply airand the heat energy in turn is dissipated mainly through the ice of theice rink. Cooling energy is supplied to the ice sports facility mainlythrough a refrigeration system connected to the ice of the ice rink. Therefrigeration system produces necessary cooling energy to keep the iceat the required temperature level by dissipating the heat energy boundto the ice.

To reduce the total energy consumption of the ice sports facility, it isdesirable to insulate the ice acting as a heat sink from the heated airof the ice sports facility during downtime of the ice rink. The use ofan ice rink for practicing ice sports and the ice maintenance requiredby the use covers only part of the day. This downtime outside of ice useis usually more than a third of the day, the downtime mainly consistingof nighttime and other time periods when the ice rink is free from icesports and maintenance. By insulating the cooled ice from the heated airfor such significant time periods, significant cost savings arepossible.

For the solution to be usable in ice sports facilities, it must alsotake into account the following requirements and restrictions set by theice sports facility: the structure of the ice rink, shape andfunctionality of the ice rink, user friendliness of the solution, andthe space limitations of the ice sports facility set by the standsarranged around the ice rink.

Known solutions for reducing the energy consumption of ice sportsfacilities during downtime of the ice rinks are lacking in many aspects.The known solutions have in common that an insulating cover is laiddirectly on the ice, and in contact with the ice. Thus, the operatingprinciple and efficiency of insulation of these solutions is baseddirectly on the insulation properties of the covers themselves. Inpractice, the known solutions that have effective insulation propertiesare thick, heavy, rigid, and very difficult and laborious to operate.Therefore, frequent daily use of such covers is very difficult toimplement or mechanize efficiently. Known solutions do not fulfil allthe use requirements set by the operating environment of ice sportsfacilities, and there are no widely used known solutions for thisproblem.

Therefore, there is a clear need for an improved solution for reducingthe total energy consumption of ice sports facilities, particularlyduring downtime of the ice sports facility.

Respectively, the known methods for covering an ice rink are limited inaspects detailed above, and as implied in elsewhere in the followingdescription.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentionedproblems and to provide a cover arrangement for an ice rink which isbetter suited for reducing the energy consumption of ice sportsfacilities during downtime of the ice sports facilities, and to providean improved method for covering an ice rink. These and other objects areachieved with a cover arrangement according to independent claim 1 andwith a method for covering an ice rink according to independent claim12.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependentclaims.

The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specificationthat do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to beinterpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments ofthe invention.

Further advantages and details of the invention are disclosed in detailin the description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the following the present invention will be described in closerdetail by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings, inwhich

FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view illustrating the operationalprinciple and the object of the cover arrangement as a technicalsolution.

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged section and cross-sectional view of anembodiment of fixing a cover to a board structure surrounding an icerink with the required tightness and strength.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of section A-A of the embodiment of FIG.4 ,

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of an ice rink,

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of section A-A of the embodiment of FIG.6 ,

FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of an embodiment according to theinvention,

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of section A-A of the embodiment of FIG.8 ,

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of an embodiment according to theinvention,

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of section A-A of the embodiment of FIG.10 ,

FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of an embodiment according to theinvention, and

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of a method according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERABLE EMBODIMENTS

In the present figures, the cover arrangement 1, and the ice rink 10 arenot shown to accurate scale, but the figures are schematic, illustratingthe basic structure and operation of the preferred embodiments. In thiscase, the components indicated by reference numerals in the accompanyingfigures correspond to the components indicated by reference numerals inthis specification.

The following embodiments are only examples. Although the specificationmay refer to “an” embodiment in several locations, this does notnecessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s),or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single featuresof different embodiments may also be combined to provide otherembodiments. Furthermore, words “comprising” and “including” should beunderstood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of onlythose features that have been mentioned and such embodiments may containalso features/structures that have not been specifically mentioned. Allcombinations of the embodiments are considered possible if theircombination does not lead to structural or logical contradiction.

FIG. 1 illustrates the operating principle of an embodiment of the coverarrangement 1, when the cover arrangement 1 covers an ice hockey rink10′. The cover arrangement 1 limits the energy consumption caused by theice 11 described later in connection with FIG. 3 and elsewhere in thisdescription. Energy consumption is limited both in terms of coolingenergy of the ice 11 and in terms of heating energy of the ice sportsfacility surrounding the ice 11 during time periods when the ice 11 iscovered with the cover arrangement 1. These time periods outside iceuse, when the ice hockey rink can be covered, are more than a third ofthe ice rinks' total operation time, mainly consisting of nighttime andother longer time periods when the ice rink is free from ice sports orice maintenance work.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the operational principle of theprotective cover solution for the ice hockey rink is based on heatinsulation provided by a closed, stable cold air pocket formed betweenthe cover arrangement 1 and the ice 11, and on the insulation providedby the surface of the cover arrangement 1 itself.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the ice hockey rink 10′ surrounding theice 11, which has tight and closed sides, is completely covered with thecover arrangement 1 positioned clearly above the ice 11, and having therequired airtightness, such that the cover arrangement attaches to anupper edge of the ice rink 2 or its inner side boards with the requiredtightness. The purpose of the cover arrangement 1 is to prevent the warmair flows caused by the ventilation of the sports facility fromdirecting and mixing to the cold air pocket above the ice 11.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the cover arrangement 1 is thereforecompletely separate from the surface of the ice 11. In this case, astable cold air pocket is formed in the closed space between the coverarrangement 1 and the ice 11, where the coldest and densest air settlesagainst the ice 11. Above this coldest air layer, layers of warmer andless dense air are arranged due to lift. The stable cold air pocketcreated in this way acts as a heat insulator, limiting the heat transferin the air above the ice 11 and the convection that dominates it.Preferably, heat transfer through heat radiation is further minimized bythe cover arrangement 1 having low emissivity on its surfaces.

The distance of the cover arrangement 1 from the surface of the ice 11can vary within the structural height of the boards of the rinksurrounding the ice 11 according to the respective board structure andimplementation solution. For example, in connection with the ice hockeyrink 10′, the distance can be up to the upper surface of the boards ofthe ice hockey rink 10′ or to a rink glass surrounding it, when thecover arrangement 1 and the surrounding ice hockey rink 10′ or othertightly constructed side structure together form a closed air spacesurrounding the ice rink 3 above the ice rink 3.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the operating principle and structure ofthe cover arrangement 1 for the ice hockey rink 10′ enables a coverarrangement 1 for covering the ice hockey rink 10′ with a size ofapprox. 1800 m2, which is very thin, and light compared to its size, canbe packed into a very small space, is easy to handle (packing, opening,spreading) and is cost-effective both in terms of material costs andmanufacturability. The structural properties enabling the coverarrangement 1, as well as the airtightness required of the coverarrangement 1 and the durability and operation in accordance with itspurpose of use without condensation disadvantages, can be solved withoptimally selected, ultra-thin and light coated textile materials foundon the market (e.g. nylon and polyester).

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged section of a cross-section view of anembodiment of fixing a cover arrangement 1 with the required tightnessand strength to a board structure of an ice hockey rink 10′ surroundingthe ice 11. In this embodiment, a strongly magnetized outer periphery 3′of the cover 1 comprising a textile structure is fixed with magneticforce to a magnetic part 13′ integrated in an upper edge of the icehockey rink 10′, the magnetic part 13′ completely encircling the icehockey rink structure.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 , the operating principle and structuralfeatures of the cover arrangement for the ice hockey rink enable themechanization and use of the technical solution within the demands andrestrictions set by the ice rink environment and conditions, as well asthe adaptability of the cover arrangement (e.g. shape, externaldimensions) allowing it to be retrofitted to varying ice sportsfacilities and ice hockey rinks (10′).

The cover arrangement for an ice hockey rink as described abovesignificantly reduces both the cooling energy consumption of the ice 11and the heating energy consumption of the ice sports facilitysurrounding the ice 11 during covered periods of the ice hockey rink10′. The cover solution thus brings significant energy and operatingcost savings to ice sports facilities on monthly and annual basis.

The cover arrangement for the ice rink improves the air humidity controlconditions of the ice sports facility during periods when the ice iscovered, thus reducing the power requirement of air drying, bringingadditional savings in the ice spots facility's energy costs.

With use of the cover arrangement, ice making can be enhanced and bettertemperature conditions for maintaining ice quality can be created.

Therefore, also the requirements set by the ice making for dimensioningof the total power of the refrigeration system are lowered, whichresults in savings in investment and operating costs of therefrigeration system.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an embodiment of an ice rink 10 comprising ice11 and boards 12 surrounding the ice 11. The ice 11 and the boards 12surrounding the ice 11 are generally tightly fitted such that they forman uniform construction. This is a typical construction for an ice rink,and this construction is particularly typical for ice hockey rinks.However, the invention may also be utilized in other types of ice rinkshaving boards surrounding the ice. Not illustrated in the figures, theboards often further comprise see-through rink glass, made ofpolycarbonate, tempered glass, or acrylic, for instance.

FIG. 3 further illustrates how the presence of heated air and theexposed ice 11 results in substantial heat flows between the heated airand the ice 11, which in turn results in high energy consumption asdescribed in detail before.

FIGS. 5 to 10 illustrate further embodiments of a cover arrangement 1for an ice rink 10, the cover arrangement 1 comprising a flexible coverpart 2 having an area Ac at least as large as the area Ai of the ice 11of the ice rink 10. The cover arrangement 1 further comprises fixingelements 3 arranged along the periphery of the flexible cover part 2 fordetachably fixing the flexible cover part 2 to boards 12 surrounding theice rink 10 such that a closed space is formed between the ice 11 andthe flexible cover part 2. This configuration of features enables fixingthe flexible cover part 2 to the boards 12 surrounding the ice rink 10without requiring further support structures in contact with the ice 11.This allows a closed and internally open space to be formed between theice 11, the flexible cover part 2, and the boards 12 surrounding the ice11 together forming a closed, and stable cold air pocket in said closedspace. In this cold air pocket, the coldest and densest air settlesagainst the ice 11, and layers of warmer and less dense air are arrangedabove the coldest and densest air due to lift. This cold air pocketprovides a technical benefit of acting as a heat insulator, limiting theheat flows between the heated air and the ice 11 dominated by convectionthus, thus reducing the energy consumption of the ice sports facility.The flexible cover part 2 may also provide further insulation benefitson its own due to its material properties.

The flexibility of the flexible cover part 2 facilitates handling of thecover arrangement 1 when covering the ice 11 and when uncovering the ice11. The flexibility also allows the cover arrangement 1 to be folded orbundled to compact the cover arrangement 1 for storage.

The vertical distance between the ice 11 and the flexible cover part 2is limited by the structural height of the boards 12 surrounding the ice11. The structural height of the boards 12 surrounding the ice 11 isdependent on the construction and implementation of the ice rink 10. Aspointed out before, the boards 12 surrounding the ice may furthercomprise rink glass. The rink glass is in this instance considered to bepart of the boards 12 surrounding the ice 11, and the cover arrangement1 may also be fixed to said rink glass as long as the cover arrangement1 and the boards 12 or other equivalent structures surrounding the ice11 form a closed space with the ice 11.

There are multiple viable ways to implement the fixing elements 3 fordetachably fixing the flexible cover part 2 to cover the ice rink.

In an embodiment of the cover arrangement, not explicitly illustrated inthe figures, the fixing elements 3 are magnetic elements. This allowsthe fixing elements 3 to be fixed to any surfaces having magneticproperties. Often the structure of the ice rink 10 comprises suitableiron structures, such as screws, bolts, rivets, or support beams, forinstance. Therefore, by utilizing magnetic fixing elements 3, use of thecover arrangement 1 may not require any modifications to an existing icerink 10. However, suitable inserts may be installed in the ice rink 10to create better operating conditions for the magnetic fixing elements.Such inserts may be for example iron inserts embedded in the boards 12surrounding the ice 11, such that the inserts do not disturb regular useof the ice rink 10 nor rules and regulations of the ice sports performedin the ice rink 10.

In an embodiment of the cover arrangement, not explicitly illustrated inthe figures, the fixing elements 3 are suction elements. Suctionelements can be used to attach the flexible cover part 2 to any suitableflat surface. Therefore, by utilizing suction elements, use of the coverarrangement 1 may not require any modifications to an existing ice rink10.

In an embodiment of the cover arrangement, not explicitly illustrated inthe figures, the fixing elements are peg elements. Such peg elements canbe for example bolts, or other types of known pegs, which can be securedinto a corresponding receiving element 13, such as a nut or a sleeveembedded in the boards 12 surrounding the ice 11. Preferably thereceiving elements are embedded such that the embedded receivingelements do not disturb regular use of the ice rink 10 nor rules andregulations of the ice sports performed in the ice rink 10.

In an embodiment of the cover arrangement 1, not explicitly illustratedin the figures, the fixing elements 3 are hook elements, which can besecured to any suitable structures in the ice rink 10, such as an edgein the boards 12 surrounding the ice 11, or to corresponding receivingelements 13.

Depending on the construction of the ice rink 10, varying types offixing elements 3 can be used in combination to achieve the desireddetachable fixing of the flexible cover part 2 to the ice rink. Toachieve desirable function of the cover arrangement, it may bepreferable to use a combination of magnetic fixing elements and/orsuction fixing elements and/or peg fixing elements and/or hook elements,for instance.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 10 , the boards 12surrounding the ice 11 comprise receiving elements 13 corresponding withthe fixing elements 3. Use of receiving elements 13 facilitate astronger and more accurate fixing of the flexible cover part 2 to theice rink 10. Thus, the use of receiving elements also facilitatescovering of the ice 11, as the cover arrangement 1 is easier to set upcorrectly.

Preferably, the receiving elements 13 are set at a vertical distance dfrom the ice 11 of the ice rink 10, that allows the space to be formedbetween the ice and the flexible cover part 2. Preferably the verticaldistance d is at least 10 centimeters to ensure that the cold air pocketformed in the space has sufficient height to provide desired insulation.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10 , the receiving elements 13 arearranged at a top edge 12 u of the boards 12 surrounding the ice 11.This allows the sides of the boards 12 surrounding the ice to remainunaltered, and the cover arrangement 1 utilizes a pre-existingstructural edge in the ice rink 10 for accurate and easy positioning ofthe receiving elements 13.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 6 , the receiving elements 13 arearranged on the side 12 i of the boards 12 surrounding the ice 11 thatfaces inside the ice rink 10. This allows the receiving structures to bearranged to any ice rink 10 having boards 12 surrounding the ice 11.Some ice rinks 10 may have rink glass extending from the boards 12surrounding the ice 11 directly and in line with the surface of theboards. The effective height of the top edge of the boards 12surrounding the ice 11 is therefore out of reach for most people, makingit difficult to connect the fixing elements 3 with the receivingelements 13. It is therefore preferable to arrange the receivingelements on the side 12 i of the boards 12 surrounding the ice 11 thatfaces inside the ice rink 10.

Preferably, the flexible cover part 2 comprises coated fabric. Thefabric may be woven nylon or polyester fabric, particularly ripstopnylon or polyester fabric, for instance. Further, the fabric ispreferably a single layer fabric. Such fabrics provide suitable weightand strength characteristics for implementing the cover arrangement 1.The coating may have lower heat radiation properties than the fabricitself to further improve the insulating properties of the coverarrangement 1. However, also other materials may be used for theflexible cover part 2, such as plastic film for instance.

The flexible cover part 2 is preferably lightweight, more preferablyultra-lightweight, in order to facilitate handling of the coverarrangement 1, and in order to reduce the forces acting on the fixingelements 3 when the ice rink 10 is covered. Preferably, the averageweight of the flexible cover part 2 is less than 270 grams per squaremeter. Even more preferably, the average weight of the flexible coverpart 2 is less than 70 grams per square meter. In a preferableembodiment, the average weight of the flexible cover part 2 is less than40 grams per square meter.

The flexible cover part 2 is preferably thin, more preferablyultra-thin, in order to facilitate storage and compacting of the coverarrangement 1. A thin construction of the flexible cover part 2 allowsthe cover arrangement 1 to be folded, bundled, or rolled into to compactthe flexible cover part 2 to be easily handled and stored when not used.Thinness of the flexible cover part 2 also in turn affects the weight ofthe flexible cover part 2, as it effects the volume of the flexiblecover part. Preferably, the average thickness of the flexible cover part2 is less than 3 millimeters. Even more preferably, the averagethickness of the flexible cover part 2 is less than 0.2 millimeters.

According to an embodiment of the cover arrangement 1, not illustratedin the figures, the cover arrangement 1 further comprises a rimconstruction along the periphery of the flexible cover part 2. This rimconstruction is preferably shaped to match the shape of the ice rink 10to guide the flexible cover part 2 to follow the contours of the icerink 10 in order to avoid air gaps between the fixing elements 3.

According to an embodiment of the cover arrangement 1, not illustratedin the figures, the fixing elements 3 are detachably attached to theflexible cover part 2. This may be implemented with common pinchingclips, for instance.

Detachably attached fixing elements 3 in the flexible cover part 2provides an advantage that the positions of the fixing elements 3 may bealtered to better suit the construction of a specific ice rink 10.Detachable attachment also allows different types of fixing elements 3to be interchangeably used in the cover arrangement 1 thus improving themodifiability of the cover arrangement allowing broader fixing optionsdepending on the construction of the ice rink.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment of a method forcovering an ice rink 10, the method comprising steps: A taking into usea flexible cover part 2 having an area Ac at least as large as the areaAi of the ice 11 of the ice rink 10, B spreading the flexible cover part2 to cover the ice 11 of the ice rink 12, and C fixing a periphery ofthe flexible cover part 2 to boards 12 surrounding the ice 11 to createa closed space between the flexible cover part 2 and the ice 11.

Further, the method preferably comprises that the periphery of theflexible cover part 2 is fixed in step C such that the closed spacebetween the flexible cover part 2 and the ice 11 is internally open.

Further, the method preferably comprises that the periphery of theflexible cover part is fixed in step C such that the flexible cover part2 is entirely separated from the ice 11 of the ice rink 10.

Further, the method preferably comprises that the periphery of theflexible cover part 2 is fixed in in step C such that the height of theclosed space between the flexible cover part 2 and the ice 11 of the icerink 12 is at least 10 centimeters. Preferably the height is from 80centimeters to 120 centimeters. Most preferably 110 centimeters.

The method for covering the ice rink 10 is preferably performed when theice rink is not in use.

The method for covering the ice rink 10 is preferably performed with thecover arrangement 1 as described.

It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanyingfigures are only intended to illustrate the present invention. It willbe obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention can bevaried and modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A cover arrangement for an ice rink, the cover arrangementcomprising: a flexible cover part having an area at least as large asthe area of the ice of the ice rink, wherein the cover arrangementfurther comprises fixing elements arranged along the periphery of theflexible cover part for detachably fixing the flexible cover part toboards surrounding the ice such that a closed space is formed betweenthe ice and the flexible cover part.
 2. The cover arrangement accordingto claim 1, wherein the fixing elements are magnetic elements.
 3. Thecover arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fixing elements aresuction elements.
 4. The cover arrangement according to claim 1, whereinthe fixing elements are peg elements.
 5. The cover arrangement accordingto claim 1, wherein the cover arrangement comprises a combination ofmagnetic fixing elements and/or suction fixing elements and/or pegfixing elements.
 6. The cover arrangement according to claim 1, whereinthe boards surrounding the ice comprise receiving elements correspondingwith the fixing elements.
 7. The cover arrangement according to claim 6,wherein the receiving elements are arranged at a top edge of the boardssurrounding the ice.
 8. The cover arrangement according to claim 6,wherein the receiving elements are arranged on the side of the boardssurrounding the ice that faces inside the ice rink.
 9. The ice coveringarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flexible cover partcomprises coated fabric.
 10. The cover arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the cover arrangement further comprises a rim construction alongthe periphery of the flexible cover part.
 11. The cover arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein the fixing elements are detachablyattached to the flexible cover part.
 12. A method for covering an icerink, the method comprising steps: taking into use a flexible cover parthaving an area at least as large as the area of the ice of the ice rink,spreading the flexible cover part to cover the ice of the ice rink, andfixing a periphery of the flexible cover part to boards surrounding theice to create a closed space between the flexible cover part and theice.
 13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising that theperiphery of the flexible cover part is fixed such that the closed spacebetween the flexible cover part and the ice is internally open.
 14. Themethod according to claim 12, further comprising that the periphery ofthe flexible cover part is fixed such that the flexible cover part isentirely separated from the ice of the ice rink.